Part One
A long, long time ago, my husband painted the house (inside) and he asked me to paint some of the trim. We were young and loved working on our house. I wasn't sure I'd do a good job, but I said I'd
try. After a couple hours of painting trim, Rich looked at the trim and this is what happened...
Rich: "Wow! What a great job you did on that trim! It looks fantastic!!" (with excess enthusiasm)
Me: "Really? I did a good job?" (incredulously)
Rich: "Yes!!! In fact, I don't think I've ever seen anyone paint trim like that. NO ONE paints trim like you, Jane! NO ONE paints trim like you!" (overly thrilled)
Me: "Really??? Me??? Wow! Thanks!!!" (picking up the brush with even more enthusiasm)
From that day - and for the next 25 years, I was 'the trim painter.'
Part Two
I ship all of the bracelets in my Awareness shop in a muslin draw-string bag, stamped with the name of the shop. They're cute. The only problem is... that I keep using them up and then I have to stamp them again. *sigh* I usually stamp 25-50 at a time.
One day Greg was here when I was stamping bags.
"Mother... give me the bags. I'll stamp them."
"Are you kidding me?"
"No. I'm happy to stamp them. Hand 'em over."
So, Greg stamped 100 bags and put them in a couple of zip-lock bags.
"Thanks, Greg! I can't believe you did that! You're awesome."
Life went on (as it does) and a couple months later, (again, while I was stamping bags), Greg called (he did that often).
"Hi, Mom. Whatcha doin'?"
Whining, "I'm stamping bags. What are you doing?"
"Finishing up a job. Don't stamp those, I'll get them later."
"Thanks, Greg. After all, NO ONE stamps bags like you do! I'll even cook!"
Laughing (all of the kids knew the paint story), "Sounds good. See you later. Love you, Mom."
"I love you too Greg."
This time, not only did he stamp several hundred bags, he inserted a business card in each one (I usually do that when I ship the bracelet. As usual, his idea was better). After he stamped them, he put them away in the closet and marked on the outside of the plastic bags, 'stamped with cards'.
Part Three
Today, I was stamping bags - again - and remembered that there were stamped bags in the closet. I got up and found the bags, and took them out. There was Greg's handwriting on the stamped bags - 'stamped with cards'.
I held them close and cried - and cried. I couldn't use them. Not now. Maybe later, but not today.
I recovered - took a deep breath - put the bags Greg stamped, back in the closet - and returned to the task of stamping bags.
I did 50 - and they looked pretty good, but really...
NO ONE stamps bags like Greg!
A long, long time ago, my husband painted the house (inside) and he asked me to paint some of the trim. We were young and loved working on our house. I wasn't sure I'd do a good job, but I said I'd
try. After a couple hours of painting trim, Rich looked at the trim and this is what happened...
Rich: "Wow! What a great job you did on that trim! It looks fantastic!!" (with excess enthusiasm)
Me: "Really? I did a good job?" (incredulously)
Rich: "Yes!!! In fact, I don't think I've ever seen anyone paint trim like that. NO ONE paints trim like you, Jane! NO ONE paints trim like you!" (overly thrilled)
Me: "Really??? Me??? Wow! Thanks!!!" (picking up the brush with even more enthusiasm)
From that day - and for the next 25 years, I was 'the trim painter.'
Part Two
I ship all of the bracelets in my Awareness shop in a muslin draw-string bag, stamped with the name of the shop. They're cute. The only problem is... that I keep using them up and then I have to stamp them again. *sigh* I usually stamp 25-50 at a time.
One day Greg was here when I was stamping bags.
"Mother... give me the bags. I'll stamp them."
"Are you kidding me?"
"No. I'm happy to stamp them. Hand 'em over."
So, Greg stamped 100 bags and put them in a couple of zip-lock bags.
"Thanks, Greg! I can't believe you did that! You're awesome."
Life went on (as it does) and a couple months later, (again, while I was stamping bags), Greg called (he did that often).
"Hi, Mom. Whatcha doin'?"
Whining, "I'm stamping bags. What are you doing?"
"Finishing up a job. Don't stamp those, I'll get them later."
"Thanks, Greg. After all, NO ONE stamps bags like you do! I'll even cook!"
Laughing (all of the kids knew the paint story), "Sounds good. See you later. Love you, Mom."
"I love you too Greg."
This time, not only did he stamp several hundred bags, he inserted a business card in each one (I usually do that when I ship the bracelet. As usual, his idea was better). After he stamped them, he put them away in the closet and marked on the outside of the plastic bags, 'stamped with cards'.
Part Three
Today, I was stamping bags - again - and remembered that there were stamped bags in the closet. I got up and found the bags, and took them out. There was Greg's handwriting on the stamped bags - 'stamped with cards'.
I held them close and cried - and cried. I couldn't use them. Not now. Maybe later, but not today.
I recovered - took a deep breath - put the bags Greg stamped, back in the closet - and returned to the task of stamping bags.
I did 50 - and they looked pretty good, but really...
NO ONE stamps bags like Greg!
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